Industrial truck and attachment combination



Jan. 4, 1966 J.A. DRAXLER 3,226,783 INDUSTRIAL TRUCK AND ATTACHMENT COMBINATION Filed Jan. 50, 1965 ull O I80,

I 8b I INVENTOR JOHN A. DRAXLER ATTORNEY erally as a minimum a matter of several hundred features.

United States Patent 3,226,783 INDUSTRIAL 'TRUCK AND ATTACHMENT COMBINATION John A. Draxler, Berea, Ohio, assignorto The Elwell- Parker Electric Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Jan. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 255,000 Claims. (CI. 22-82) The present invention is directed generally to an industrial truck with a load manipulating mechanism, and more particularly is concerned with a load handling attachment adapted to use on an industrial truck for handling of fluent materials such as molten metals transported in a ladle or like contain-er from one place to another and as required poured from the ladle for further processing. a

In many industrial operations, large masses of fluent material are transported batch-wise, in individual loads,

from one place to another in a container which ultimately is tipped in an unloading operation to discharge the fluent material often at a controlled gradual rate or even in a series of short pours. A typical and perhaps most widespread example of this is the handling of molten metal in ladles, in metal smelting, refining, casting or other metallurgical operations. Thus metal may be discharged from a cupola or furnace int-o a ladle which is then transported to and discharged at another place for further processing or pouring into molds in casting operations.

To handle such loads in large scale industrial operations, there is required apparatus of substantial size and strength proportionate to the load of metal and ladle, genpounds and often of several tons. Further, it is highly advantage-ous that the apparatus itself include means for tipping the ladle in controlled manner for the pouring or casting operations.

Especially in casting, it is desirable that the ladle be that the movement of the ladle have a specific relation to a selected point substantially fixed inspa-ce, and establishing a substantially constant pouring path of the metal flowing from the ladle spout. The present invention provid-es apparatus having such desirable and advantageous In the specific embodiment of the invention hereinafter described in detail, there is provided in an industrial truck a mechanism adapted to engage a ladle or like load container for transport, and also to tilt the ladle for pouring operations in such manner that a relatively constant path of fluent metal is established for the course of a given pouring operation. Although especially advantageous in an industrial truck combination, certain aspects of what is disclosed are however useful with cranes or the like.

For this purpose an industrial truck of usual construction having a vertically movable elevator carriage, includes on the carriage a specific load handling device adapted first to engage the ladle, for example through a ladle bail, for transport from one place to another, the elevator carriage being used to lift the ladle to provide suitable running clearance during transport. The device is further adapted in pouring operations to impart to the ladle-initially established at the pouring station in suitable initial position through vehicular movement in horizontal sense and vertically through elevator carriage positioning-the specific tilting pouring movement. The tilting movement i-s obtained bycomposition of a vertical component of one movement and also a rotational movement simultaneously applied to the ladle in correlated manner resulting in an angular motion of the ladle about a selected fixed point or axis whereby a relatively constant .multiplying connection to a traveling or translatable lat-ch pivotally engaging a portion of the ladle and guided in its translation by tracks or other means on the attachment frame. I

The proposed apparatus eliminates manual operations on the-ladle for pouring control. Also this arrangement is advantageous, since the pouring motion is automatically established by the device itself, and it is subject to single point and single control operation by the vehicle operator preferably from the station of normal truck operation, thereby conducing to safety of the operator and, generally speaking, of workers in the pouring area by reducing probability of faulty manipulation of the ladle or mass of hot metal or the like.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide a mechanism whereby .a ladle or like container for fluent material may be conveniently transported from one place to another and further, as required, tilted in a pouring operation, establishing a relatively constant path of .the fluent material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a load manipulating device which, in combination with the ladle or like fluent material container engaged there-by, is adapted to pour the material by tilting the container in a fashion establishing a liquid discharge path relatively constant during the pouring operation.

the like from one place to another and further to impart to the container .a pouring motion at a selected location, the pouring motion being established automatically for a relatively constant pouring path for a ladle positioned at an initially selected pouring position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and the drawing.

In the drawing one form of the invention, for manipulating a metal pouring ladle L as hereinafter described, is represented as an attachment designated lay the general reference character A disposed .at the front "end of an industrial truck vehicle V represented in fragmentary form, being immediately mounted on the elevator carriage C which is vertically movable on the elevator uprights or frame F and maintainable at selected position under the control of the vehicle operator. The specific form of the carriage, the elevator frame, the motor means for moving the carriage and controls therefor, as well 'as the vehicle in general are not represented in any detail since many forms of such structure or mechanism are long and well known to the art and per se are not here considered inventive.

In the attachment a generally upright and forwardly projecting boom-like frame structure 11 mounted on a roughly vertical transverse elevator carriage b'aseplate 12, supports a rocker arm 13 having one end pivoted on pivot 14 and having on the other downwardly and outwardly marily rotational about the bail pivot, correlated .and cooperating with the movement of the rocker arm 13 or more particularly the ladle supporting hook v15, to provide 'a net ladle tilting motion about a fixed point P at the ladle pouring lip or spout S.

The frame 11 here shown comprises a pair of similar side plates 11a secured to respective vertical structural members 111) of right angle or other suitable cross section, transverse spacer members joining the side plates at 11c and 11d, and the transverse back plate 11c across the back of the uprights 1112, all suitably joined as by welding into a rigid structure, which may be removably attached if desired as by bolting to the base plate 12 of the carriage or welded into place thereon as an integral structure.

To form the track structure 18, along the curved lower forward edge of the frame or mast 11, channel shaped sections 18a bent lengthwise into mirror image shapes are secured on the outside faces of the respective side plates 110, the flanges 18b of each channel providing a curved guide for a respective inside lateral pair of guide rollers 21a supporting the traveling latch carriage or body 21 having U-shaped cross-section to embrace the track structure. The forwardly projecting portion 211) of the latch carriage includes a transversely extending pin 23 with opposite end engaged in generally longitudinal slots of respective sides of the upper bifurcated end of latch arm 22 as a pivoting and slidable connection between latch carriage and arm; and the other end of the arm 22, bifurcated or slotted to receive a perforated lug formation on the lower back side of the ladle is also perforated for a pivotal securement by insertion of the removable pin 24. The pin and slot connection of the latch carriage and arm allows some freedom in the arm for aligning the perforations when the pin is inserted with the carriage at the lower end of the track; but the arm 22, hence pin 24, assumes the fixed position as shown relative to the latch carriage throughout the apparatus motions to be described, when the upper end of the arm comes to bear on a part of the carriage such as outwardly projecting ends of shaft pins for the upper rollers.

The arm 13, shown somewhat Y-shaped to provide a rearward extension 13a, is conveniently fabricated of two like plates rigidly secured together by suitable means as by welding in spaced relation for mounting therebetween near the projecting end a sheave 26 and near the end of the projection 13a an anchor pin 27 for one end of .the cable means 19 passed across the fixed sheave 29 rotatably mounted between the mast side plates and around the sheave 26 to have its other end secured in the latch carriage projection 21b, for example conveniently anchored there on the pin 23. The cable 19 and its reeving provide a motion multiplying connection whereby the latch carriage moves on the order of twice the speed of the end of the pivotal arm.

Although as motor means for swinging the arm 13 various arrangements could be used, such as a rotary motor geared to the pivot shaft, rack and pinion means etc., for simplicity conjoined with ruggedness, use of hydraulic cylinder means is preferable. Thus a single hydraulic cylinder unit could be used acting in the arm center plane but two smaller similarly mounted and disposed cylinders are shown conveniently located externally of and upon opposite sides of the mast 11 for symmetry of force application, with cylinder base ends pivoted to the frame at 31 on coaxial pivots and having piston rod ends pivotally connected at 32 on respective opposite ends of a pivot pin secured near the central portion of the arm 13 and projecting through corresponding arcuate side plate slots 11g.

The sheave 29 is spaced from the pivot 14 to afford adequate clearance for the arm extension 13a during swing of the arm 13 from its completely retracted position shown in solid lines to its extreme outer and uppermost position shown in dashed lines in the figure of the drawings.

Generally speaking, a double acting cylinder is not necessary for motor means 16, and single acting hydraulic cylinder means extended under the force of hydraulic pressure of fluid supplied under operator control from the vehicle, is suitable, since the weight even of the unloaded arm itself is usually sufficient to bring the arm to retracted position.

The curvature of the track is adapted to the linkage and pivotal arm movement and interconnection so that the motions applied through the hook to the bail and thereby to the ladle, and by the latch linkage to the ladle result in a tipping of the ladle about a point P, here chosen in the ladle spout S, substantially fixed relative to the frame 11 or the original ladle position. However, a particular spout shape or the physical characteristics of the fluent material might dictate a location of the fixed point external to the spout for example.

Any suitable hydraulic pressure supply and controls may be used for the piston unit 16 including for example an electric pump, reservoir control valve on the truck connected from the control valve to the cylinder means as at 30 through suitable flexible hosing in known arrangements for this purpose.

Thus in the arrangement disclosed, the attachment parts in relative positions shown as in solid lines of the drawing, the vehicle provided with such an attachment may be maneuvered in usual fashion and so also the carriage C on the elevator frame, so that a ladle bail may be engaged by the hook 15, the latch engaged with the ladle, and the ladle elevated from the ground or other surface by normal vertical motion of the elevator carriage for transport to another place. At the destination the ladle may be merely deposited by a reverse sequence of operations; but further pouring manipulation is possible by the mechanism specific to this invention. For the latter, the socalled fixed point P of the spout may be located at a desired pouring point first by vehicular motion and as to vertical placement by selection of carriage position; and then the pouring operation may be begun by controlled application of fluid pressure to the cylinder means 16 extending the cylinder and causing the ladle to be tilted with the substantially fixed point P being maintained through the pouring operation, the bail being lifted of course directly by the swinging of the hook 15 on the pivotal arm and the back end of the ladle being lifted and also pivoted about the point of bail attachment through the travel of the latch arrangement 17. For different positions of the carriage C, therefore of the ladle handling mechanism as a whole, the fixed point will have correspondingly different elevations relative to truck or ground, but the location relative to the mechanism will be substantially constant as indicated by the fragmentary dashed outlines of the spout associated with the point P2.

I claim:

1. The combination of a load transporting apparatus having a vertically and horizontally movable carriage adapted to be maintained at a selected location,

a load transporting and pouring ladle,

said ladle having a pouring spout, and a bail, and a ladle engaging mechanism on the carriage adapted to engage the ladle for transport from place to place and also to tilt the ladle in a pouring operation; said mechanism comprising:

a frame extending outwardly from the carriage,

means movably mounted on the frame adapted to engage the ladle bail and impart thereto a motion having vertical and forward components,

latch means movable on the frame adapted to engage the ladle body at a region spaced from the bail, and means interconnecting the first said means and said latch means as a motion converting connection and guide means on the frame for said latch means, whereby upon motion of the first said means a correlated motion is imparted to the said latch means for imparting to the ladle body an angular movement relative to the hail, the several said means being mutually adapted to provide in the ladle a resultant motion of rotation about a pre-established point in the pouring spout.

, 2. The combinationo fa load transporting apparatus having a vertically and horizontally movable carriage adapted to be maintained at aselected location, a load transporting and pouring ladle having a pouring spout, and a ladle engaging mechanism on the carriage adapted to engage the ladle fortransport from place to place and also totilt the ladle in a tion; said mechanism comprising:

a frame extending outwardly from the carriage,

swingable means movably mounted on the frame adapted pivotally to engage and impart to the ladle a lifting motion having vertical and forward components, 1 latch means movable on the frame adapted to engage the ladle pivotally at a region spaced from the first said means, and means interconnecting the first said meansand said latch means as amotion converting connection and guide means on the frame for said latch means, whereby upon motion of the first said means a correlated motion is imparted to the said latch means for imparting to the ladle body an angular movement, the several said means beingmutually adapted to provide in the ladle a resultant motion of rotation about a pre-established point in the pouring spout. 3. The combination of an industrial truck having a vertically, movable elevator carriage adapted to be maintained at a selected vertical position, load transporting and pouring ladle,

said ladle having a pouring spout, a lugjfixed thereon and a bail;

' and a ladleen-gagingrnechanism on the carriage adapted to engage the ladle for transport from place to place and to tilt the ladle in a pouring operation;

said mechanism comprising: i

a frame extending upwardly and forwardly from the carriage, means movably mounted on the frame adapted to engage the ladle bail and .impart thereto a motion having vertical and forward components,

ladle lug engaging latchmeans movable on the frame, and means interconnecting the, first said means and said latch means as a motion converting connection and guide means on the frame for said latch means, whereby upon motion of the first said means a correlated motion is imparted-to the said latch means for imparting to the ladle body an angular movement relative to the bail, the several said means being mutually adapted to provide in the ladle a resultant motion of rotation about a pre-established point in the pouring spout. 4. The combination of an industrial truck having a vertically movable elevator carriage adapted to'be maintained at a selected vertical position, and a ladle engaging mechanism on the carriage adapted to engage a ladle having a pouring spout and a bail for trnsport from place to place and to tilt the ladle in a pouring operation; said mechanism comprising:

a frame extending upwardly and forwardly from the carriage, means movably mounted on the frame adapted to engage the ladle bail and impart thereto a motionhaving vertical and forward components, ladle latch means movable on the frame adapted to engage the ladle body at a region spaced from the bail, and means interconnecting the first said means and said latch means as a motion converting connection and guide means on the frame for said latch means,

whereby upon motion of the first said means a correlated motion is imparted to the said latch pouring operameans for imparting to the ladle body an angular movement relative to the bail, the several said means being mutually adapted to provide in the ladle a resultant motion of rotation about a pre-established point in the pouring spout.

5. The combination of an industrial truck having a vertically movable elevator carriage adapted to be maintained at a selected vertical position,

and a ladle engaging mechanism on the carriage adapted to' engage a ladle having a pouring spout and a bail for transport from place to place and to til-t the ladle in a pouring operation;

said mecahnism comprising:

a frame projecting outwardly from said carriage,

a rocker arm with upper end pivotally mounted to the frame for swinging in a substantially vertical plane and having its other end projecting below said frame,

ladle bail-engaging means on the projecting end of the rocker arm,

motor means reacting on the frame adapted to swing said rocker arm,

a traveling latch pivotally and reieasably engageable with said ladle at a point spaced from said bail,

guide means on the'frame determining a path of travel for said latch,

means interconnecting said rocker arm and said traveling latch whereby upon motion of the first said means a correlated motion is imparted to the said latch for imparting to the ladle body an angular movement relative to the bail, said interconnecting means including a sheave on and spaced from the pivoted end of said rocker arm,

flexible means having one end attached to said rocker arm at a point remote from said sheave and reeved about said sheave for attachment of its other end to said traveling latch means,

and a fixed sheave on the frame over which said flexible means is passed from the first said anchor point to the first said sheave,

.the several said means being mutually adapted to provide in the ladle a resultant motion of rotation about a pre-established point in the pouring spout.

6. The combination of an industrial truck having a vertically and horizontally movable carriage adapted to be maintained at a selected location,

and a ladle engaging mechanism on the carriage adapted to engage a load transporting and pouring ladle having a pouring spout and a bail for transport from place to place and also to tilt the ladle in a pouring operation;

said mechanism comprising:

a frame projecting outwardly from said carriage, a rocker arm with upper end pivotally mounted to the frame for swinging in a substantially vertical plane and having its other end projecting below said fname, ladle'engaging means on the projecting end of the rocker arm adapted to pivotally support the ladle above its loaded center of gravity,

motor means reacting on the frame adapted to swing said rocker arm,

a traveling latch releasably engageable with said ladle at a region spaced from said ladle engaging means,

guide means on the frame determining a path of travel for said latch,

means interconnecting said rocker arm and said traveling latch whereby upon motion of the first said means a correlated motion is imparted to the said latch for imparting to the ladle body an angular movement relative to the axis of pivotal support, said interconnecting means including a sheave on and spaced from the pivoted end of said rocker arm,

flexible means having one end attached to said rocker arm at a point remote from said sheave and reeved about said sheave for attachment of its other end to said traveling latch, and a fixed sheave on the frame over which said flexible means is passed from the first said anchor point to the first said sheave, the several said means being mutually adapted to provide in the ladle a resultant motion of rotation about a pre-established point in the spout region during a pouring motion. 7. The combination of a load transporting and pouring ladle having a pouring spout and a bail, with a load manipulating apparatus adapted to tilt the ladle in a pouring operation; said apparatus comprising:

an upwardly and outwardly extended frame, means movably mounted on the frame adapted to engage the ladle b'ail and impart thereto a motion having vertical and forward components, ladle latch means movable on the frame adapted to engage the ladle body at a region spaced from the bail, and means interconnecting the first said means and said latch means as a motion converting connection and guide means on the frame for said latch means,

whereby upon motion of the first said means a correlated motion is imparted to the said latch means for imparting to the ladle body an angular movement relative to the bail,

the several said means being mutually adapted to provide in the ladle a resultant motion of rotation about a pre-established point in the pouring spout.

8. The combination of a load transporting and pouring ladle having a pouring spout and a bail, with a load manipulating apparatus adapted to tilt the ladle in a pouring operation;

said apparatus comprising:

an outwardly and upwardly extended frame,

a rocker arm with upper end pivotally mounted to the frame for swinging in a substantially vertical plane and having its other end projecting below said frame,

ladle bailengaging means on the projecting end of the rocker arm,

motor means reacting on the frame adapted to swing said rocker arm,

a traveling latch pivotally and releasably engageable with said ladle at a point spaced from said bail,

guide means on the frame determining a path of travel for said latch,

means interconnecting said rocker arm and said traveling latch whereby upon motion of the first said means a correlated motion is imparted to the said latch for imparting to the ladle body an angular movement relative to the bail, the interconnecting means including a sheave on and spaced from the pivoted end of said rocker .arm, flexible means having one end attached to said rocker arm at a point remote from said sheave and reeved about said sheave for attachment of its other end to said traveling latch, and a fixed sheave on the frame over which said flexible means is passed from the first said anchor point to the first said sheave, the several said means being mutually adapted to provide in the ladle a resultant motion of rotation about a pre-established point in the pouring spout. 9. A mechanism adapted to engage a load transporting 8 and pouring ladle and to tilt the ladle in a pouring operation, said ladle having a pouring spout and a bail, said mechanism comprising:

an outwardly and upwardly extending frame,

means movably mounted on the frame adapted to engage the ladle bail and impart thereto a motion having vertical and forward components,

latch means movable on the frame adapted to engage the ladle body at a region spaced from the bail,

and means interconnecting the first said means and said 10 latch means as a motion converting connection and guide means on the frame for said latch means,

whereby upon motion of the first said means a correlated motion is imparted to the said latch means for imparting to the ladle body an angular movement relative to the bail, the several said means being mutually adapted to provide in the ladle a resultant motion of rotation about a pre-established point in the pouring spout. no 10. A mechanism adapted to engage a load transporting and pouring ladle and to tilt the ladle in a pouring operation, said ladle having a pouring spout and a bail, said mechanism comprising:

an outwardly and upwardly extending frame,

a rocker arm with upper end pivotally mounted to the frame for swinging in a substantially vertical plane and having its other end projecting below said frame,

ladle bail-engaging means on the projecting end of the rocker arm,

I said rocker arm,

a traveling latch pivotally and releasably engageable with said ladle at a point spaced from said bail, guide means on the frame determining a path of travel for said latch,

means interconnecting said rocker arm and said traveling latch whereby upon motion of the first said means a correlated motion is imparted to the said latch for imparting to the ladle body an angular movement relative to the bail,

said interconnecting means including a sheave on and spaced from the pivoted end of said rocker arm,

flexible means having one end attached to said rocker arm at a point remote from said sheave and reeved about said sheave for attachment of its other end to said traveling latch, and a fixed she-ave on the frame over which is passed from the first said anchor point to the first said sheave,

the several said means being mutually adapted to provide in the ladle a resultant motion of rotation about a pre-established point in the pouring spout.

References Cited by the Examiner 5 J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner,

MARCUS U. LYONS, Ex miner.

motor means reacting on the frame adapted to swing 

1. THE COMBINATION OF A LOAD TRANSPORTING APPARATUS HAVING A VERTICALLY AND HORIZONTALLY MOVABLE CARRIAGE ADAPTED TO BE MAINTAINED AT A SELECTED LOCATION, A LOAD TRANSPORTING AND POURING LADLE, SAID LADLE HAVING A POURING SPOUT, AND A BAIL, AND A LADLE ENGAGING MECHANISM ON THE CARRIAGE ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE LADLE FOR TRANSPORT FROM PLACE TO PLACE AND ALSO TO TILT THE LADLE IN A POURING OPERATION; SAID MECHANISM COMPRISING: A FRAME EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE CARRIAGE, MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE FRAME ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE LADLE BAIL AND IMPART THERETO A MOTION HAVING VERTICAL AND FORWARD COMPONENTS, 